Fishermen to boycott fishing demanding release of colleagues

Fishermen in Rameswaram have decided to boycott fishing indefinitely from Friday demanding release of 53 of their colleagues, arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy during the last two days for allegedly entering its waters illegally.

A meeting of the Mechanised Boat Fishermen's Association also decided to picket central government offices if the fishermen were not released by next Thursday.

Tamil Nadu Mechanised Fishermen's Association president NJ Bose said the meeting urged the central and state governments to take immediate steps for the release of the fishermen.

The Sri Lankan had arrested 34 Tamil fishermen on Thursday for allegedly entering its waters illegally. They had on Wednesday captured 19 fishermen on charges of "trespassing and poaching in Sri Lankan waters".